Patients with cancer face not only the physical toll of the disease and its treatment but also a range of emotional, psychological, and functional challenges that can significantly affect their daily lives. These challenges may impact their ability to work, socialize, and maintain routine activities. In addition, cancer treatments are often associated with side effects that can range from temporary to long-lasting, potentially disrupting care delivery and quality of life.
Supportive care services, which address the physical, psychological, and social impacts of cancer, are now recognized as an essential part of high-quality cancer care. These services aim to improve patients’ quality of life while also promoting optimal treatment outcomes. Although sometimes used interchangeably with palliative care, supportive care encompasses a broader range of services, from diagnosis through survivorship, that include palliative care among other resources.
Supportive care services address the physical, psychological, and social impacts of cancer and its treatment. There is increasing recognition that these services are an essential component of high-quality cancer care. A focus on improving quality of life for people with cancer is resulting in a higher demand for expanded and equitable delivery of supportive care. This handbook provides cancer care centers with a framework and practical resources for building capacity to provide these services equitably and sustainably.
Dr. Heberton sheds light on issues of access for patients with cancer seeking dermatologic expertise.
![[Abstract #180] Shared Decision-Making Attitudes and Practices in Multidisciplinary Cancer Care Teams](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/0vv8moc6/accc-cancer/c22f6e03ac0c02e09330e836ac34df93d5be530e-432x496.png)
Presented at the 2020 ASCO Quality Care Symposium